The date
of 1999 Chinese Moon Festival is 9/23/99 in USA. However, the date of 1999 Moon Festival
is 9/24/99 in China. Why ?

The date of Chinese Moon Festival (a.k.a. Mid-autumn
Festival) is on the 15th moon day of 8th Chinese lunar month (Chicken month). Since the
new moon day is the first day of a Chinese Lunar Month. The first day of 8th lunar month
is 9-10-99 in China, the Moon Festival is on 9-24-99. The first day of 8th lunar month is
9-9-99 in EST or PST, the Moon Festival is on 9-23-99 in USA.

Time
Zone

Longitude

New
Moon Date & Time

The
15th moon day

Full
Moon Date & Time

China

East 120

9-10-99 06:02 a.m.

9-24-99

9-25-99 18:52 p.m.

EST (USA)

West 75

9-09-99 17:02 p.m.

9-23-99

9-25-99 05:52 a.m.

PST (USA)

West 120

9-09-99 14:02 p.m.

9-23-99

9-25-99 02:52 a.m.

Many Chinese still think the Chinese Moon
Festival is on the full moon day of mid-autumn. More than 50% chance, the moon full day is
on the 16th moon day of a lunar month. It's unusual for USA time this year 1999 that
the full moon day is on 17th moon day of the 8th lunar month.

The Moon Festival is a holiday in China. It's an
occasion for family reunion. Chinese families like to get together to eat the moon cakes
and watch the moon at the Moon Festival night. For the people are out of town or for
Chinese are from China stay in USA, they miss their family or the lover at home and
share the same moon at the night of the Moon Festival before the Internet gets
popular.

Most of Chinese in USA today
still use the Chinese lunar calendar published from China, Hong Kong or Taiwan. They are
told that the Chinese moon festival is on 9-24-99 which is a date close to the full moon
day and time. That's why we can hear some Chinese say that the moon
in USA is much fuller than the moon in China. We should respect those people own a pair
of good eyes.

Click here to read the legendary stories of the Moon Festival and Moon Cake.